Writer Joseph J. Airdo // Photography by Mike Benedetto and Pete-Schulte

North Valley Symphony Orchestra will take its audience on a symphonic sleigh ride around the world this month as the ensemble performs a concert that promises to be a mesmerizing musical journey spanning continents and cultures.

“We were very careful to select music representing every continent except for Australia and Antarctica,” says music director and conductor Kevin Kozacek, joking that there are not too many penguin songs to choose from. “And I think that we were very successful in finding pieces from around the world. We tried to cover it all.”

North Valley Symphony Orchestra’s commitment to inclusivity and diversity is the heartbeat of the concert, which is set for Saturday, Dec. 16 at North Canyon High School Auditorium in Phoenix. With an impressive repertoire of 17 pieces, the concert aims to be a grand celebration, transcending the traditional Christmas focus.

The meticulous selection of music encompasses not only recognizable medleys of holiday carols but also standalone pieces designed to introduce audiences to customs and observances with which they may not yet be familiar.

“Our goal with this theme is to just have a very celebratory concert,” Kozacek says. “Of course, most of our audience is looking for a Christmas concert, but we also want to be reflective of the other things that are going on during this time of the year.”

Kozacek, reflecting on his international experiences as a conductor, speaks passionately about the unifying power of music.

“Art expands our knowledge of other cultures and traditions,” Kozacek says. “I was fortunate enough to, at one point in my career, conduct over in Kyiv, Ukraine, and Krasnoyarsk, Russia. That was a very eye-opening experience to conduct two different orchestras from two different countries. It gave me such an appreciation for how much we share in common. Our differences really are very minor compared to how much we have in common.”

Among the many merry selections set to be performed as part of North Valley Symphony Orchestra’s “Holidays Around the World” concert is “A Joyful Noel” — a piece, based on “Joy to the World” and “The First Noel,” that opens with a majestic brass fanfare before breaking into a Celtic-style dance and building to a dramatic conclusion.

The transcontinental sleigh ride will continue through Italy (“Gesu Bambino”), France (“Patapan”), Russia (“Troika”), Canada (“Huron Carol”), Scotland (“Fantasy on Auld Lange Syne”) and China (“Spring Festival Overture”). Other selections include “African Holy Night” and “Brazilian Sleigh Bells.”

The concert will also feature three festive medleys. The aptly titled “Around the World at Christmas Time” traverses Germany, Poland, England and France as well as incorporates pieces of African-American, Roman Catholic and Jewish music. Meanwhile, the Jewish celebration of Hanukkah is recognized in a five-song medley composed by Bill Holcombe and a nine-song medley of Christmas standards with which the audience can sing along serves as a grand finale.

The celebration of unity will continue to infuse the North Valley Symphony Orchestra’s entire season, with Kozacek excitedly revealing the ensemble’s spring concerts: “Postcards from Bohemia” in March, focusing on Bohemian composers such as Antonin Dvorak and Bedrich Smetana, and “Victors and Heroes” in May, featuring the musical scores from “Rocky” and “James Bond,” with “Olympic Fanfare and Theme” in tow.

In a personal touch, Kozacek shares that his favorite holiday song is “O, Tannenbaum,” as it reminds him of one of his most cherished family holiday traditions.

“As a young Kevin, my family used to go up into the mountains of Colorado where there were Christmas tree cut areas,” the music director and conductor explains. “They were thinning the forest and would mark trees that you were allowed to cut down. Every year, we went up there, cut down a tree, topped it, brought the top home and had a fresh Christmas tree from the Colorado Rockies.”

Celebrating the diverse traditions that make this time of year so special, North Valley Symphony Orchestra’s “Holidays Around the World” concert is about much more than just music; it is about the unity and shared joy that music brings, transcending borders and cultures — especially during the holidays.

‘Holidays Around the World’
Saturday, Dec. 16 // 7 p.m. // North Canyon High School Auditorium // 1700 E. Union Hills Drive, Phoenix // See website for price // 623-980-4628 // northvalleysymphony.org